ˈärməmənt, ˈȧm- noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: modification (influenced by Latin armamenta utensils) of French armement, partly from armer to arm + -ment, partly from Late Latin armamentum arms, from Latin, utensil, from arma weapons, tools + -mentum -ment — more at arm
1. : an army, air, or naval force : a combat or defense unit : a military detachment
the vast armament sent by the Roman emperor crossed the sea
2. often plural
a. : the aggregate of a nation's military strength : military, air, and naval personnel, their weapons and equipment, and full manpower of a nation when organized for war or defense together with essential industry, raw materials, and stockpiles of manufactured goods
a small nation that is determined to have adequate armaments
b. : arms and accessory equipment of a combat or defense unit
planes with the newest armament
c. : means of protection or defense : armor
a rosebush well protected by thorns, its natural armament
3. : the process of readying or equipping for war (as through building up an arms supply)
the country's armament will take years